MESOP : HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT WEST KURDISTAN (SYRIA) BY KURDWATCH – ONGOING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS BY PYD/YPG (PKK) –

Al-Maʿbada: Asayiş (PYD/PKK) kidnaps Kurdish National Council member ʿUmar Salih ʿUmar

KURDWATCH, September 28, 2015—On September 10, 2015, employees of the Asayiş, the security service of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), kidnapped ʿUmar Salih ʿUmar at a checkpoint in al‑Maʿbada (Girkê Legê). ʿUmar is a member of the local committee of the Kurdish National Council in al‑Maʿbada. The background to the kidnapping is not yet known.

Raʾs al-ʿAyn: Refugee shot at by Turkish border soldiers

KURDWATCH, September 30, 2015—On September 27, 2015, Turkish soldiers opened fire on a group of refugees trying to cross the border into Turkey at Mustarihah near Raʾs al‑ʿAyn. One of the refugees, Sami al‑ʿUklah, was severely injured.

Al-Hasakah: Renewed fighting between IS and YPG on the Jabal ʿAbdulʿaziz

KURDWATCH, September 30, 2015—On September 26, 2015, armed conflicts broke out between the Democratic Union Party’s (PYD) People’s Defense Units (YPG) and Islamic State (IS) fighters around thirty-five kilometers southwest of the city of al‑Hasakah at the edge of the Jabal ʿAbdulʿaziz (Çiyayê Kezwan). IS fighters also tried to take over a checkpoint controlled by the Syrian regime two kilometers south of al-Hasakah.

Aleppo: Islamist units attack Shaykh Maqsud

KURDWATCH, September 30, 2015—On September 21, 2015, fighters for the Jabhat an‑Nusrah, the Harakat Ahrar ash‑Sham al‑Islamiyah, and the Harakat Nuruddin az‑Zanki blocked all access roads to the predominantly Kurdish district of Shaykh Maqsud in Aleppo. Between September 24 and 26, positions held by the Democratic Union Party’s (PYD) People’s Defense Units (YPG) were attacked. Between September 26 and 28, several missiles hit residential buildings in the district. Two children were killed and more than ten civilians were injured. The attackers are part of the Labbayki Ukhtah operations center, an alliance of Islamist groups that reached an agreement with the PYD to divide control of the district in May 2015 [download document]. Evidently that agreement has failed. According to the PYD‑affiliated Hawar news agency, Islamic units have attacked with the goal of bringing a road between Aleppo and ʿAfrin that runs through Shaykh Maqsud under its control.

ʿAmudah: PYD excludes prostitutes from amnesty

KURDWATCH, September 30, 2015—On September 23, 2015, the co‑chairs of the transitional administration for the canton of Jazirah, which was appointed by the Democratic Union Party (PYD), signed the legislative council’s amnesty decree. The decree pardons people who were convicted by PYD courts and given sentences of less than five years. People who were convicted of narcotics offences; stealing, smuggling, or dealing in ancient artifacts; counterfeiting; smuggling; robbery; or collecting donations will have their total sentences reduced by thirty percent. All other offenders will receive a forty percent reduction of their sentences. Fugitive offenders can be pardoned if they report to the authorities within one month. People convicted of committing terrorist acts and prostitutes are excluded from the amnesty.

Al-Qamishli: Asayiş confiscates motorcycles

KURDWATCH, September 30, 2015—On September 23, 2015, employees of the Asayiş, the security service of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), confiscated motorcycles at several checkpoints in al‑Qamishli. The motorcycles are to be returned once the owners have been issued new vehicle documents by the transitional administration for the canton of Jazirah, which was appointed by the Democratic Union Party (PYD). Several radio stations reported that motorcycle owners had until September 28 to procure new papers.

Tall Birak: IS attacks YPG positions

KURDWATCH, September 29, 2015—On September 25 and 26, 2015, fighters for the Islamic State (IS) attacked positions held by the Democratic Union Party’s (PYD) People’s Defense Units (YPG) near the village of Tall Birak, approximately thirty kilometers northeast of al-Hasakah. Information about potential victims is not available. www.mesop.de